ORIGINAL: Mr. Finkelhiemer
Last year I bought my first Flintlock and first ever Blackpowder rifle. I purchased a Lyman Deerstalker and had some ignition issues and spark issues with the flint and frizzen. Although I did eventually get the darn thing to fire, I was pretty darn aggravated. I had tried an old timer trick that my uncle recommended to me. I wrapped the flint in a peice of lead stripI made from a round ball. After that, the rifle started firing pretty flawlessly. Afterabout 50 rounds through the barrel the rifle started to shoot great. But once again my Flint went downhill. I gues this is to be expected with the flintlock but mando i love to shoot this thing.
My Questions are: 1) Should I try English Flints on the rifle or A German Agate Flint since I need to
replace the original that came with the rifle?
2) Would anyone recommend that I put an RMC touch hole liner on the barrel for
better ignition?
I have to tell everyone here that over my years of hunting and just plain shooting, I was really missing something. Shooting the flintlock has made me a much better shooter and I love it. I would just like to improve my igition problem.
I used Hogden Triple 7 FFF powder and GOEX FFFF in the flashpan. THis seemed to work best. I tried patched roundballs but eventually went to Hornady PA Conicals which resulted in 2 1/2 inch groups off hand at 50 yards. Ithought this was good enough since i never shot one before. I just need all the pointers I can get right now.
Thanks,
Justin
Justin ... in my Lyman Trade Rifle I use a RMC touch hole liner and it really helped in the ignition and lock time. I would strongly recommend getting one with the Allen head style...
The Black English Flints work great. But some will give you twenty shots, others might give you 50 or more. The German Agates also work real good but can not be knapped. My Lyman came with an agate and I must have got over 50 shots off that before it went bad. I wish I had counted, because I shot three sessions and normally shoot 20 rounds a session... before that agate went bad. I also tried the French Amber flints. While they worked real good, I did not find the extra expense of them worth the money. The Thomas Fuller Black English Flints work fine for me.
For the best ignition use pure black powder. Actually you can shoot 3f in the main charge and the pan. If you do want to stick with the Triple Se7en powder, try a duplex load. Drop about 10 grains of black powder down the barrel first, tap the rifle on your toe to level the load (and fill the touch hole) and then put in your Triple Se7en. You will see a much faster and more positive ignition with the rifle..
It sounds like you have the rifle and the accuracy down well. Now it is a matter of trial and error of different things. Good luck and I don't have to even guess how much fun you are having. Flintlocks are a lot of fun.